NEW 2009 MERCEDES E-CLASS SAUNTERS IN

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been unveiled with details. Expected in South Africa in early 2010, the brand new E-Class has been leaked way before the official pictures came to light. That’s the nature of the game though, and Merc can’t deny the publicity gathered from that leak gave them extra orders.

Several engines will be found in the E-Class which comes in AVANTGARDE and ELEGANCE models. AMGSports kit will be offered as well. Starting with an E200 CGI with 135kW and either manual or automatic gearbox. Then there’s a E250 CGI with 150kW and 310Nm mated to a 5-speed automatic. Last on the petrol side are the E350 CGI with 215kW and an E500 producing 285kW. As you can see the last three engines have not had a power hike from the current generation car. The E63 AMG will apparently produce a very disappointing 386kW, up a paltry 8kW. Hopefully when the facelift comes in mid-2012 we’ll see more power. Remember that the new Jaguar XFR makes 380kW while the Audi RS6 does 426kW.

Unless there is a “rear bench” option, the new E-Class, as our pictures show, has become a 2+2 seater, meaning only four people instead of five can sit in it; two upfront two at the back. Several technologies debut with the E-Class including Blind Spot Assist from the S-Class, Lane Keeping Assist, LED lights and Night View Assist Plus. It also comes with PRESafe and three-zone climate control that allows front individual climates to be set while rear passengers get their own weather too.

The current E-Class succeeded the unique “teardrop” model and has sold over 1.3 million units since its international debut in 2002. In Germany it holds a 40 percent market share in its class. South African pricing of the 2010 E-Class should begin around R465 000 for the E200.